Epiphany

18:

- Hadia - 

I somehow managed to sleep overnight, and when I woke up the next day, the room looked awfully quiet. The couch was empty. Mustafa's blanket was neatly folded, resting on the armrest. His laptop was gone, too. I guessed he must've woken up early and gone to prepare for the expo.

I let out a sigh, sitting up in bed. My thoughts immediately drifted to the events of last night, and my cheeks warmed in embarrassment. I ran a hand through my hair, it's fine he's out, I can get ready in peace, I thought.

Since the Game Expo was a big event for all game developing companies and  gamers, it's the best time to promote and show off new games for the year, too. I had decided to dress more professional today and went for a black shirt and top and wore a beige blazer on top. I paired it with my black hijab and wore my lanyard with my name and company name. 

Applying my lipstick lightly, I ran out of the hotel after grabbing a croissant and coffee. By the time I arrived at the venue, it was half nine. The place was already bustling with activity, colorful booths, animated discussions, and eager attendees everywhere. I hurried to our team's table, where I saw Mr. Mustafa standing with a few other team members, finalizing the setup.

"Good morning," I greeted softly as I approached.

Mustafa glanced at me briefly and nodded, his expression unreadable as usual. "We're just about ready. Go check with Sarah for your task for the morning," he said before turning back to the others.

I exhaled, grateful that he hadn't commented on my tardiness, and went to find Sarah.

-
The morning went by so fast with all the activities taking place. Our booth looked impressive, with banners and interactive displays showcasing the new game. By midday, the expo was in full, and the crowd at our booth was steady. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until the game suddenly crashed during a demo.

I was standing to the side when I heard one of the developers mutter, "Oh no." "What happened?" Mr. Mustafa's sharp voice cut through the air.

"The system froze. The game crashed," James replied, frantically typing on his laptop. Panic rippled through the team as they tried to fix the issue. "This is bad," Sarah whispered. "One of the investors is here, waiting for his turn at the demo."

"Keep him distracted," Mr. Mustafa ordered. His gaze landed on me. "Hadia, you're good with people. Go keep the investor company while we sort this out."

"What?" I asked, startled. "You heard me," Mr. Mustafa said firmly. "I don't know..." I hesitated, glancing toward the man in question. Something about him set me on edge. Maybe it was his lingering gaze, the way he smiled like he knew something I didn't.

"I'm getting weird vibes from him," I said. "We don't have time for this," Mr. Mustafa replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Just keep him occupied." I swallowed my unease and nodded. "Fine."

I approached the investor, forcing a polite smile. He was tall, with a polished demeanor, but there was something unsettling about the way his eyes flicked over me when he approached.

"Ah, Miss Hadia," he said, extending his hand. "A pleasure to meet you." I was still forcing the polite smile and shook his hand quickly. "Nice to meet you too, sir. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have while the team works on the demo."

"Perfect," he said, his tone smooth, though his gaze lingered on me uncomfortably. "Shall we talk somewhere quieter? This booth is so noisy." I tried to keep my distance as I decided to lead him away from the booth, pointing out some of the other attractions at the expo. But he didn't seem interested in anything except.... me.